The Voyage of the General McClellan
Our first family emigration to America, 1864. The following account of the voyage was kindly supplied by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers, of Salt Lake City, Utah.
The ship General McClellan was chartered to sail on the 20th, of May 1864 but owing to the rain which set in, the upper deck could not be used for the purpose of examination of passengers, who had to consequently undergo inspection between decks. This put the passengers to some inconvenience and discomfort but, notwithstanding this, not one unkind word or one ill natured remark was heard from the Saints during the proceedings, which occupied some little time. The vessel could not leave until the following day, the 21st.
The ship General McClellan was 1518 tons and built in 1862. It took 32 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean, which was a brief time. The captain was C.D. Trask and there were 802 Latter Day Saints on board. Emigrants were under the Presidency of Thomas Jeremy and his counselors, Joseph Bull, George G. Bywater and John C. Grahm, Clerk. Elders Jeremy and Bull and Bywater were returning missionaries as was Elder Moses Farnsworth, who was with the company. On the voyage, there was 1 birth, 2 children died and four couples were married.
Because of the civil war in the United States Captain Trask sailed farther north of his course to miss the Confederates on the ocean. On the 4th of July he got amongst ice bergs. "A large ice berg in the shape of a lion floated across our course. There was a dead calm. During the night of the calm the winds started to blow and by morning a storm was raging. Buckets and boxes were sliding to and fro across the vessel dumping their contents as they went. Water came down the hatchway exciting a great many and many thought their last hour had come. But for the grace of God, it could have been their last hour because of the length and power of the storm. Water surged over the ships decks in large dashing waves almost sweeping the sailors from their posts."
The company arrived in Castle Gardens, New York on the 23rd June 1864 much to the delight of all passengers on board, and proceeded to Wyoming, Nebraska Territory. President Thomas Jeremy related to George Q. Cannon under date of 2nd of July 1864, that upon arrival at New York the company boarded a steamer up the Hudson River. "We docked along the way and took a train to Rochester where we stayed for one day, the day being Sunday. At Albany we boarded a train and traveled night and day to St. Joseph Missouri." Some delay had occurred on the road at Buffalo, New York. The railroad officials distributed a quantity of biscuits and cheese and again upon the arrival at Fort Huron, a good supply of bread and cheese was supplied by Railroad officials. Because of the Civil War it was an exciting time, but we got through safely without any serious trouble.
We were told the General McClellan was sunk on her return trip to Liverpool. She was a North American vessel and was sunk by the Confederate Alabama.
At Chicago President Jeremy met Judge Godbe and Francis A.N. Mitchel who together gave a sum of fifty dollars to assist the emigration. Several times collections were made among the saints to help other less fortunate saints who had no funds at all. This money and the generous help of railroad officials was much appreciated as a large number of emigrants were entirely destitute of means and depended upon President Jeremy and his assistants to supply their needs (Millennial Star-church chronology & other accounts.)
The company proceeded to Wyoming, Nebraska Territory. The Mormon boys from Utah were there helping the saints to gather to Zion. Many of these young boys made this trip a number of times and met the women they later married. The saints, some 400 strong, left there July 15th,1864, on a trip of 1000 miles. They went in 66 wagons drawn by ox teams. Three or four yoke per wagon. The captain of the company was Joseph S. Rawlins from Draper. At night when we stopped for our camp, the captain would give orders to form a circle with the wagons as a protection against the Indians. Many Indians were met on the long journey and the captain would always give them a little sugar to keep peace with them. Most of the time the younger people would start out early in the morning and go on foot ahead of the ox teams but one day the captain said the Indians were on the war path and ordered us to keep close by or we might all be killed. The captain and his men made a ford across the Plate River. We all crossed safely after experiencing some difficulties. One old lady had to be rescued or she would have drowned.
A telegram sent to President Brigham Young from Sweet Water Bridge in Wyoming September 1 stated," The wagon train, drawn by oxen is in good condition and doing well, cattle traveling well." A telegram September 9th from Little Sandy to Brigham Young stated," Traveling all right, doing well."
The company arrived in Salt Lake City September 20th, 1864. It took 67 days total. One company arrived on the 29th. We were met by kind, loving and sympathetic family and friends.